Recent Reading

I'm currently floating in a kind of limbo-land. Having finally decided that I could keep on tweaking my current manuscript until Doomsday, I have now embarked on the totally different task of submitting. Gosh, am I rusty! I've spent so long concentrating on the solitary task of writing fiction, I am finding it tough facing the big wide world of reality and write those short, sharp, meaningful letters to all those lovely agents out there. Suddenly, everything I write is banal and flabby and I'm beginningn to wish I could shove the lot under my mattress.

At the same time, I am also taking the first steps into my next project. I know what it's about, when and where it's set and a vague idea of the story. The only clue I'm giving you is that it takes place in the late 16th century so there's a lot of research to do. At present I'm just doing the preliminary stuff and gathering ideas. I've even ritten the first 500 very rough words.

So you see, I am betwixt and between and nothing much is happening. I will keep you posted but I having no intention of airing all my dirty dealings and rejections in public. I know I'll get plenty of the latter but I will keep them, as well as any positive praise (if I get any), close to my chest until I am ready to go public. Which might never happen. Just warning you.

One thing I promise I shall not do is self-publish. You all know why and if you don't, just scroll back.

One thing I shall never never stop doing is reading. It's as vital to me as eating and drinking. As my blog is not really a book review site, I won't go into detail about any of the books I am about to mention. Suffice to say I have loved them all. Apart from on the Vine Programme I never review books I can't fully endorse even if they're by good friends. As I do review for the Amazon Vine Programme, some of the following are not yet published and I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview. I won't provide links because if you're interested I'm sure you'll know where to find them. Most of them are novels but all four are totally different in theme and style. And yet they all have two thing in common: Firstly I enjoyed them all and secondly the writing is superb, the themes and emotions deep and meaningful and yet, they are all immensely readable. I love great writing but it has to tell a story (even the non-fiction) and it must be accessible.

So, in no particular order, I bring you...

Deep Country by Neil Ansell

The Snow Child by Eowen Ivey

Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce

The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman